Bobcat, a leading manufacturer of construction equipment, is launching its compact loader range for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region with several key features such as auto ride control, heated cloth air ride seats and cushioned cylinders.

These enhancements provide an increased choice for the Bobcat skid-steer, compact track and all-wheel steer loader ranges.

Complementing this, Bobcat has also launched the S100E model for EMEA, an updated version of the company’s popular S100 skid-steer loader that meets Stage V emissions regulations.

Like the S100, the new S100E skid-steer loader meets customer requirements for manoeuvrability, size, weight, uptime protection, lift capacity and push force for this loader class. In addition, customers benefit from improvements Bobcat has made in operator comfort, ease of operation, noise levels, running costs and asset management.

These new advances come in the year that Bobcat celebrates the 60th anniversary of the loader, forming part of a 60 year legacy in compact loaders that is second to none in the worldwide construction equipment market, said the company in a statement.

Over the last 60 years, the same outstanding quality, workmanship and innovation have helped to maintain Bobcat’s market leadership, so that one in every two skid-steer loaders sold today is a Bobcat machine, it added.

The new featuress in Bobcat loader range include: auto ride control; heated cloth air ride seat; cloth suspension seat and auto reversing fan (all factory option and kit) besides cushioned cylinders and deluxe interior foot-pad (both standard) and LED side lights and rear camera (kit).

Available as a factory option or as an aftermarket kit, the new auto ride control system improves operator comfort when driving with a load in the bucket especially on rough terrain, said the statement from Bobcat.

This feature lets the operator lock in travel at a speed of their choice, so that they only have to think about where they are going without feeling the need to avoid bumps or any other surface level obstacles, it stated.

Some of the major benefits include reduced spillage caused by vibrations due to an uneven operating speed and/or irregular surfaces; more stability when moving up and down with a load/weight and the ability to drive faster on rough terrain.

It is also an intelligent system, providing increased efficiency, performance gains and a more comfortable ride with fewer bumps, simply through the flick of a switch.

The new heated cloth air ride seat is available on the Bobcat 600, 700 and 800 Series compact loader models. This is an alternative to the previous air ride seat with a vinyl surface and further enhances operator comfort with the move to the cloth surface. It is designed to enhance comfort and productivity, particularly for customers operating loaders in cold weather.

On the 400 and 500 Series models, Bobcat has also introduced the cloth suspension seat, again replacing the air ride seat with a vinyl surface. The cloth surface improves the operator’s comfort all year round − in both cold and hot weather − and provides more comfortable seating on slopes and inclines.

The air ride seat with vinyl surface remains available for Bobcat loader customers through the company’s aftermarket service.

According to Bobcat, the incorporation of cushioned lift and tilt cylinders as standard offers advantages when the loader’s lift arms are lowered and/or the Bob-Tach system tilted, and the cylinders move towards the end of a stroke, by restricting the hydraulic fluid from flowing out so that the cylinder is slowed down before it fully retracts.

This slowing − or cushioning − effect increases overall performance and improves comfort, because the operator does not need to slow down the motion themselves when approaching the end of the stroke. In addition, cushioned cylinders soften the impact when the lift arms contact the mainframe − reducing noise in the workplace.

As well as being a standard, free of charge feature for the customer, this system allows the operator to work faster, with softer impacts, reducing spillage while tilting and ensures that the machine feels more stable when in use, said the statement from Bobcat.

The auto reversing fan helps to keep the grill clean and to clear out dust that can clog the cooler. This helps improve machine uptime, reducing the need to clean so frequently and it is an automatic feature, ensuring the operator does not have to leave the cab as often, it added.

Available in kit form, the LED side lights improve the operator’s all-round visibility from inside the cab. The lights − solidly incorporated in the cab structure to ensure high reliability − help the operator work more safely and efficiently, in all environments, in minimal visibility conditions.

In extremely dark conditions, and especially in tight spaces, the LED side lights enable the operator to see how close they are to an obstacle.

To further enhance visibility to the rear, Bobcat has introduced the new rear camera kit, with the basic system combining a 4.3-inch display and a 118-degree tail-gate mounted camera.-TradeArabia News Service